little by little, shaving enlightenment

my shave today wasn't particularly close or comfortable. lots of
"skipping" and the blade wasn't making a pleasant sound as it cut.

i thought this was because the blade had dulled (perhaps it had, my stropping is, of course, beginner level only) but after re-applying some lather, i realized: it was my lather consistency!

i used a different soap today than yesterday (when i had a better shave) and today's soap -- though presumably of equal quality to yesterday's -- requires a different lather consistency. once i had the consistency just right, the blade sang, as it should.

sigh. so much to learn. but that's the whole point, eh?